Guitarist Miloš Karadaglić to Be Featured in Studio Ghibli’s Upcoming “When Marnie Was There”

(By Gene Yraola)

It’s been a banner year so far for Miloš Karadaglić. After releasing our highest rated album of 2014 thus far (see review) this past February, the classical guitarist is set to be featured on the film score for Studio Ghibli’s upcoming feature When Marnie Was There, as revealed by sources close to the movie’s composer Takatsugu Matsumura.

Listening to Karadaglić’s debut recording (The Guitar, 2011) and its easy to see why the classical guitarist is a natural fit in providing the music for the generally emotional storylines that fans have come to expect out of Studio Ghibli.

The film based on the Joan G. Robinson’s children’s novel of the same name will be directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi at its helm.

The publisher’s description of the novel resembles the generally emotionally complex and character driven screenplays of most Studio Ghibli films:

Anna hasn’t a friend in the world – until she meets Marnie among the sand dunes. But Marnie isn’t all she seems…

An atmospheric ghost story with truths to tell about friendship, families and loneliness. Anna lives with foster parents, a misfit with no friends, always on the outside of things. Then she is sent to Norfolk to stay with old Mr and Mrs Pegg, where she runs wild on the sand dunes and around the water. There is a house, the Marsh House, which she feels she recognizes – and she soon meets a strange little girl called Marnie, who becomes Anna’s first ever friend. Then one day, Marnie vanishes.

A new family, the Lindsays, move into the Marsh House. Having learnt so much from Marnie about friendship, Anna makes firm friends with the Lindsays – and learns some strange truths about Marnie, who was not all she seemed..

The new film is drawing attention as Yonebayashi is expected to be one of the leading Ghibli directors now that legendary Hayao Miyazaki has retired.

Studio Ghibli’s films are heralded for its brilliant scores that are impressive as stand alone recordings. One look at the Studio Ghibli Fans facebook page reveals countless adoration and affection towards it music, ranging from countless covers to remixed interpretations on soundcloud. Studio Ghibli also had possibly one of the coolest classical music LP releases ever with their limited edition vinyl sets put out by MONDO in 2013.

Meanwhile, When Marnie Was There‘s music is also drawing attention due to the theme song of the movie being by performed by American singer/songwriter Priscilla Ahn as announced last week. The song “Fine On the Outside” will be the first ever English theme song for a Studio Ghibli Film.

When Marnie Was Thereis set to be released in Japan on July 19, 2014. No release date has been given for a soundtrack release date, though here’s hoping it will be released in a collectible vinyl as previous memorable Studio Ghibli scores were on last year’s special MONDO collectible color vinyls.

Don’t think the music of an anime film can be emotionally powerful? A trip to 1988’s Grave of The Fireflieswill change that..